Berlin, Germany is a city where history, creativity, and modern culture blend seamlessly. As the capital and largest city of Germany, Berlin is famous for its rich past — from the Brandenburg Gate and remnants of the Berlin Wall to the world-class museums on Museum Island. Visitors can walk through streets filled with stunning architecture, vibrant street art, and reminders of the city’s divided history. Berlin’s diverse neighborhoods, like Kreuzberg, Mitte, and Prenzlauer Berg, each offer a unique glimpse into local life, with cozy cafés, vintage markets, and an ever-evolving art scene.
Beyond its history, Berlin is a hub for innovation and culture. The city hosts some of Europe’s best music festivals, cutting-edge galleries, and international food spots that reflect its cosmopolitan spirit. Whether you’re exploring the Reichstag, relaxing in the Tiergarten, or experiencing Berlin’s legendary nightlife, there’s always something new to discover. For travelers eager to learn about Berlin, this is a city that never stands still — constantly reinventing itself while honoring its fascinating past.
Recommended Berlin Restaurants on a Budget
White Trash Food – American food and entertainment
Schonhauser Allee 6-7, 10119 Berlin, Germany
Belushi’s – Burgers-Beer-sports (soccer)
Rosa Luxemburg Str. 39-41 | Mitte, 10178 Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Curry 61 – Currywurst
Oranienburger Str. 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Rosenthaler Grill und Schlemmerbuffet – Grill kebabs
Torstrasse 125, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Thai Inside – Thai
Dircksenstrasse 37, 10178 Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Oscar Wilde Irish Pub (soccer)
Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, Germany
Gerichtslaube – German
Poststrasse 28, im historischen Nikolaiviertel, 10178 Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Max und Moritz – German
Oranienstrasse 162, 10969, Berlin, Germany
Staendige Vertretung – German
Schiffbauerdamm 8, 10117 Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Sisaket (Mao Thai) – Thai
Mauerstr. 76, 10117 Berlin, Germany (Mitte)
Tex Mex Cantina – Mexican
Georgenstr., Berlin, Germany
Maharadscha – Indian
Fugger Str. 21, 10777 Berlin, Germany (Schoneberg)
World War 2 sites in Berlin
* Topography of Terror— Niederkirchnerstrasse 8, 10963 Berlin, Germany
* Third Reich Berlin Tour: Hitler & WW2 https://insidertour.com/tours/third-reich/
* Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
*WWII Bunker tour – https://www.berliner-unterwelten.de/en/guided-tours/public-tours/dark-worlds.html
*Wilhelmstrasse: The Nazi gov’t district. Along here is the “Topography of Terror” open-air exhibit, Goring’s Air Ministry, there are information signs (German & English) along the street where various buildings stood, etc.
*Wannsee Conference House: Site of the infamous Heydrich meeting that planned the “Final Solution” (Holocaust). Very worthwhile. And nearby is the *Luftwaffe Museum.
*Reichstag: Well worth a visit regardless of your WW2 interests, but the interior walls have lots of graffiti left by Red Army soldiers, combat damage, etc. Get there early, there’s a long queue.
*Moltke Bridge: Some of the last resistance in Berlin occurred here as the Germans tried to hold the bridge and the Soviets tried to force it.
*Humboldthain Flak Tower. Partially buried in rubble after the war, on its north side most of this enormous concrete edifice is visible and the view from the top (quite a climb) is incredible.
*Anhalter Bahnhof: The ruined portico of this once-elegant station remains, and beyond it the vast Anhalter air raid bunker.
*Bendlerblock: Wehrmacht Berlin HQ and center-stage in the 20 July plot to kill Hitler. Contains a museum on German resistance.
*German History Museum (Zeughaus): Covering many centuries on German history, but the sections on the 20th century are very good. Plenty of exhibits for you on your preferred topics. Next door is *Neue Wache, the old guard house, which is the German memorial to victims of war and genocide.
*Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church: In west Berlin, still in ruins after RAF bombs hit in in 1943, the church stands as a memorial.
*Deutsch-Russische Museum: Scene of the surrender on 8 May and now a museum.
*Soviet Memorials: One just west of the Brandenburg Gate and another, larger one in Treptow.
Now outside Berlin …….
*Seelow Heights: Scene of the last big battle of the European war. Seelow is a nice town about 90 minutes east of Berlin, and contains a small, but very good museum to the battle. Also there is a large memorial to the Red Army. The area has numerous German and Russian military cemeteries.
*Reitwein: southeast of Seelow. Here you can visit the command post used by Zhukov & Chuikov, and the whole area is pockmarked with dugouts and trenches.
*Kustrin (now Kostrzyn, Poland): Only about 15 minutes east of Seelow. You can view the remnants of the old fortress from the German side of the Oder, but if you have time, cross the border into Poland and take a walk around. The massive complex was literally flattened in 1945 while under siege.
*Halbe: South of Berlin. Scene of the “Halbe Pocket” where the German 9th Army attempted to escape Soviet encirclement. The military cemetery there (the largest in Germany I believe) is a haunting place among the pine woods.
*Zossen: Wehrmacht’s underground HQ complex and used post-war by the Soviets. Not generally open except on selected days.